Legislature approves adoptee-rights bill

Ken Dixon

Updated 12:07 am, Thursday, May 8, 2014

HARTFORD -- Adoption-rights advocates on Wednesday succeeded in getting legislation approved that would allow some of them copies of birth records that could help give them crucial information on family medical histories.

Mothers who gave up their children and demanded anonymity would still be able to retain it, lawmakers said.

The bill passed the Senate 31-5 vote around 9:30 p.m. and with its previous approval in the House, the legislation moves to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's desk, where advocates hope the bill will be signed into law. A similar bill was vetoed several years ago by then-Gov. M. Jodi Rell.

The looming midnight legislative deadline speeded up debate as the Senate tried to debate and pass dozens of bills lingering on its calendar

Sen. Antonietta Boucher, R-Wilton, said she was concerned that the legislation could discourage women from giving up babies for adoption, out of fear that years later, they could be tracked down.

"I could not imagine going through my lifetime not knowing who my parents were," said Sen. John Kissel, R-Enfield, who like Boucher, voted against it. Others who voted against it included Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, R-Fairfield and Sen. Michael A. McLachlan, R-Danbury.